Chelsea are considering launching a bid for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.
The 25-year-old has caught the eyes of the reigning Premier League champions and manager Antonio Conte seems to be flattered by the winger’s excellent form for Palace this season, which seems to have tempted him to launch a bid in the winter transfer window, according to Mirror.
Zaha has had an impressive start since his return to action for Palace, scoring 4 goals in 12 Premier League appearances this term. The Ivorian scored the second goal in the weekend’s 3-0 win over Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
The nippy attacker completed a high-profile move to Manchester United back in 2013 but only made two appearances in the English top flight before returning back to Selhurst Park.
Since rejoining Palace, it seems like Zaha has got his stuttering career right back on track and his development, coupled with maturity is making him one of the most exciting wingers to watch in the Premier League.
Under manager Roy Hodgson, Zaha seems to have added another gear to his game and interestingly, helped Palace beat us earlier this season with a splendid performance in a 2-1 win for their first points of the season.
Arsenal and Tottenham were favourites to sign the talented winger but they have cooled their interest, and it looks like Chelsea are now looking at Palace’s talisman in January or next summer.
Chelsea have struggled with a number of injuries this term and Conte has made no secret of his desire to bring fresh faces to Stamford Bridge in January. The board is expected to allot our manager with funds to bolster the squad and the Italian expects Zaha to provide his team with the attacking spark.
However, Palace chairman Steve Parish said last month that there was no chance of the Ivory international being sold in the January transfer window.
“That’s out of the question [him leaving],” Parish told BBC’s Match of the Day, reported by IBTimes.
“Working with Wilf and having Wilf around the club is fantastic. He cares so much about this club.
“He’s a joy to work with for every manager, and obviously he makes a big difference to us on the pitch,” he added.
It seems unlikely that we’d get Zaha in January, with Palace fighting relegation. The Ivorian is considered as a vital player at the club and they’d by hook or crook attempt to keep him in order to stay in top-flight football.
But in summer, Conte would get a chance to sign Zaha and he should not let the opportunity go.